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He said: “It was an unforgettable day, a fantastic experience for my family and recognition of the outstanding work of thousands of county council staff and voluntary workers across Surrey.

“Collecting my CBE from the Queen was a real privilege and I was thrilled that my wife and children were there to see it because this special award is as much for them for their steadfast support as it is for me.

David Hodge received his CBE from the Queen on Thursday February 23 (Image: Surrey County Council)

“And of course I could only really accept it on behalf of the many people who have put in so much time and effort to support me – without them I simply couldn’t do my local government and Rotary work.

“However, while being recognised by the Queen is a great honour, I remain as determined as ever to work for the benefit of Surrey’s residents, whether that’s highlighting the pressures we face from rising demand for services or providing support to communities through charity work.”

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SCC council tax referendum headlines

Cllr Hodge has not been without controversy though; this year so far he led Surrey County Council's cabinet in supporting a 15% council tax rise, which would have called a referendum on May 4, before backtracking in front of the full council.

The county council's proportion will now rise by 4.99% instead, below the threshold for triggering a referendum.